Is there a new Abraham? I moved from Cameroon to Canada at the end of February 2016 with my lovely wife, Pamela, and our four beautiful daughters: Christel, Sandra, Liza and Monica. Meeting my wife challenged me. She originally came from the Presbyterian Church, then embraced the Catholic faith, and through training in the Catholic Women Association, she became more devoted to the Virgin Mary and the reading of the scriptures. I was just a Sunday church-goer, and so I felt I needed to do something to meet up. In 2010, I joined the Catholic Charismatic Renewal group and my life got completely transformed. I served the Church as diocesan intercessor, translator, and coordinator of the Renewal group in my Parish. I also worked with the Renewal Ministries. Thanks to Renewal Ministries, I learned the “unbound prayer” and each time I prayed with someone, God blessed me and showed me areas of improvement in my life. Serving Jesus paid me back with amazing joy.

When I arrived in Canada, I was struggling not to let go an iota of the joy I brought in. I discussed it with a Canadian priest whom I helped as translator during his missions in Cameroon, and he advised CCO to be the movement that could help me foster my faith.

After visiting CCO HQ and learning more about their mission and vision, I understood that CCO was the right place to work in. More so, the smiles I had from the CCO missionaries was like the luminous rays that you find on the Divine Mercy Picture oozing out of Jesus’ heart. The small word for colleagues is “Thank you very much”. The fact that I started work the same day with another colleague, Tanya, is a clear message from God: You are not alone or better “…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Mt. 28:20)

On staff, CCO granted me the position of HR Assistant (Payroll and benefits). I am challenged to retain the missionaries by making sure their benefits and wages are processed and paid on time. Likewise, I have to propose improvements to CCO’s payroll and benefit procedures and policies that encourage missionary engagement and satisfaction through policies that are compliant with legislation.

I do not want to give the devil a chance; whenever I am facing a trial or a tribulation, I strive to laugh at it because I know that the enemy is happy to see me sad. This gives way to the Holy Spirit to inspire me with a gentle and loving solution.